The event marked the start of Poverty and Homelessness Action Week and involved a sponsored outdoor sleep where participants spent the night outside in a cardboard box in order to raise money for Sutton Coldfield YMCA.

Nationally, the YMCA works to address the issues and raise awareness of youth homelessness, to further promote this they run Sleep-Easy events across the country. This year Sutton Coldfield’s YMCA joined the campaign for the first time. The theme was: Sleep rough so others don’t have to.

Andrew Mitchell MP said, “Congratulations to Heidi all those who helped highlight the issue of youth homelessness and raise vital funds for Sutton Coldfield’s YMCA at this, Sutton’s first Sleep-Easy. The money raised will make a real difference to the lives of young people in our community, helping them to build a better future.”

Heidi Bentley, Streetwise Project Manager at the Sutton Coldfield YMCA said, “The night was a great success. Sponsorship forms are still being collected but we are hoping to have raised over £1,000.”

As well as all of the following who visited or stayed out during the event:The young people, staff from Sutton Coldfield YMCA and Clifton Road Youth Centre, the Police, the Constituency Office, Millie Lewis and Andrew Mitchell MP.